Washing machine



Dec. 15 1925. 1,565,243

- A. w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed April 23, 192.15 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllliiEZliill I Dec. 15 1925. 1,565,243

A. W. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1923 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 $nvznrma.

Dec. 15,192s. 1.565.243

A. W. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed April 23, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 15,1925. 1.565243 r A. w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed April 25, 192:5 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 rit Fatented Dec. ll, W25.

ll l ll ares aster @FFEQE,

ALPHEUS W. ALTORFER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOISFASSIGNOE T0 ALTORFER BROS. GOM- IPANY, Ol" EAST PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPQBIATION OF ILLINOIS.

WASHING MACHINE.

application filed April 23, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ALrI-InUs W'. ALToRFnn, a citizen of the United States,.a resident of Peoria, in the county of Peoria and Eitate of Illinois, has invented new and useful Improvements in Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to washing machines, and it has for its principal object to improve the tub structure, the brace means therefor and the manner and means of supporting thesame for oscillation.

Tubs of the character referred to are usually constructed or formed of copper, and it has become more or less a general ractice to bolt the tub to its supporting rame with one or more of the bolts passing through walls of the tub within the water line. Constant oscillation of the tub causes a vibration which shortly causes a leak around the bolt or bolts and destroys the usefulness of the tub. My improved tub and frame structure therefore adds rigidity, not only to the tub, but to the brace means and locates such bolts as are used, outside of the water line, thereby obviating any chance of leakage.

The mounting for the tub, to permit it to be oscillated, includes journal bearings which provide for the easy, convenient and nick placing or removal of the tub in the rame; one of such bearing supports being preferably included in the oscillating means for the tub.

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the present description, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, looking at one side of the tub and its mounting, the machine frame being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a similar view, partly broken away, of the opposite side of the tub;

Figure 3 is a Vertical sectional view, as the same would appear, if taken on the line 8-3 Figure 1, the machine frame being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 4- is a detail, in elevation, as the same would appear on the line 4l Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, the machine frame being shown in dotted lines, and position of movable parts shown in dotted lines;

Figure 5 is a detail, in elevation partly Serial No. 633,877.

in section, as the same would appear on the line 55 Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, the machine frame being shown in dotted lines; 7

Figure 6 is a side elevation, showingone side" of the tub and frame structure 'con- 99 Figure 3, loo ring in the direction ofthe arrows;

' Figure 1.0 is a detail sectional view, showing a modified retaining means for one side of the tub, and

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view, showing a modified retaining means for the other side of the tub.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The frame 1- of the machine, in each instance is shown in dotted lines, and is'preferably disclosed as an angle frame. Figure 1 is a view looking at the machine on the wr inger side, the support for which and housing for certain operating parts is designated 2; being also that side of the machine where the tub oscillating mechanism is located, only certain parts of which walls l and the substantially circular con necting and rubbing wall 5. The walls 4 being united to the wall 5 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The top of the tub is formed with an opening 6 for the insertion and removal of clothes and other materials to be washed. Such opening being preferably formed in the wall 5 and a seat 7 provided to receive a detachable lid or cover, not shown. The wall; 5 at a point diametrically opposite the openin 6 is inturned for a suitable distance, as at 8, to provide a transverse bridg -wall of verted V-shape, and the side walls l where they unite with the bridge-wall 8 and also with the wall 5 at the opening 6 match up with the same to unite with the bridge-wall and to complete the seat 7 for the lid or cover. The major portion of the wall 5 llltl and the converging walls of thebridge-wall are formed or provided with rubbing ribs 9 which act on the clothes or other materials as the tub is oscillated. The bridge-walls are each provided at or near the point where they merge into the wall 5 and adjacent one side Wall 4, with water escape openings 10, and connecting the opposite walls forming such bridge is a suitable conduit or pipe 11 to which is connected a valve controlled elbow or waste pipe 12, see Figures 3 and 9 for use in draining the tub.

The bridge-wall 8 not only provides a transverse strengthening for the tub and particularly the wall 5, but it also provides for the location of a connecting rod 13 between frames 14 and 15 outside the waterline and thereby prevents the possibility of leakage around said rod 13.

The frames 14 and 15 provide for sup porting and bracing the tub, in a manner I shall now. explain. Each of said frames are substantially Y-shaped, having the upper diverging arms -16and the lower oppositely extending shoe portions 17 each having in turned flangeslS to receive and brace the wall 5 just in front of the bend merging into the bridge-wall 8, and also the inturned inverted'V-shaped flange 19 to receive and brace the bridge-wall 8 and the arcuate bend thereof, at either end of said bridge-wall, see Figures 3 and 9, also dotted lines in Figures 6 and 7. The connecting rod 13, as shown in Figure 3, passes through the lower end portions of the frames 14 and 15 and its opposite ends are engaged by nuts 20 to draw the frames into securing relation with the tub, in manner shown. The outer ends of the arms 16 are formed with plates or shoes 21 to give a good purchase of the arms against the side walls 3 of the tub near the upper and outer edges thereof, at which point, which is above and outside the water line, bolts 22 secure the arms 16 to the walls 3 of the tub. The frames 14 and 15 are thus shown as hearing against and across the outside of the walls 3 to stiffen and strengthen the tub walls, and bolted thereto at points where it is impossible for leakage to take place around the securing bolts. In dotted lines, in Figures 8 and 9 I have shown vacuum cups 23 which may or may. not be employed and if employed would be attached to the walls 3 by rivets 24. Also the water line is shown in these figures. The frame 15 is preferably formed or provided with a trunnion 25 extending laterally'therefromat a point constituting the axial line of the tub.

The frame 14 differs from the frame 15 in that it has no trunnion and the vertical leg of the frame is of channel formation, having side flanges 26 and an overhanging top connecting flange 27 from which depends a preferably tapered pilot-pin or stud 28. As

shown in Figure 3, the flanges 26 are preferably tapered and connected with one of said flanges is a set screw 29, so disposed that a line drawn there-through would intersect a line drawn through the pilot-pin at the axis of the tub.

The mounting for the tub in the machine frame includes a bracket 30 and a crankarm 39 for that side of the tub having connected thereto the frame 14, and the bracket 32 for that side of the tub having connected thereto the. frame 15. Both brackets are secured to and within the angle frames 1 and to and on cross frames 1*, shown in dotted lines. The bracket 32 is formed or provided with the laterally and inwardly extended open bearing 33 in which may be seated and journaled the trunnion 25 on the frame 15, see Figures 3 and 5 and retained by the cotter-pin 34, if desired, which is passed through the opposite walls of the bearing and across and above the trunnion 25. In place of the eottenpin 34 there may be provided the yieldable pin 35, see Figure 11 carried within a barrel 36 formed on or connected to the bearing 33. If the cotterpin is used it is required to be removed before the trunnion 25- could be seated or removed. Using the yieldable pin 35 the trunnion can be easily snapped into place, and as easily removed, the pin 35 yielding to the pressure of the trunnion thereagainst and moving from and into operative position.

The bracket 30 is of the same general con struction as the bracket 32 except that in place of an open bearing, such as 33, the bracket 30 is formed or provided with a sleeve-like bearing 37, open at its inner end, the axis of which is in axial alignment with the axis of the bearing 33 and the axis of the tub when mounted on said brackets 30 and 32. In said sleeve-like bearing 37 is journaled a short shaft or stem which protrudes from the inner open end of said bearing and carries thereon a crankarm 39 formed or provided with a hub 40 which is keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the short shaft or stem 38, see Figures 3 and 4. Said arm 39 is formed or provided with an inturned flange or shelf 41, which, when the arm has been secured in position on the short shaft or stem 38 overhangs or is in super-imposed relation to its hub 40, and said flange or shelf has a tapered opening 42 therethrough to receive the depending pilot-pin 28 when the tub is inoperative position in the frame.

Assuming the tub to be constructed and assembled, as shown, and assuming the frame to include the brackets 30 and 32 and the crank-arm 39 to have connection with the bracket 30 in manner described, the tub is placed in operative position in the frame by seating the trunnion 25 on the frame 15 mama-e in the open bearing 33 on the bracket 32 and at the same time inserting the pilot-pin 28 into the opening 42 in the flange or shelf 41 on the crank-arm 39. As the frame 14 is lowered with the tub, its channel face will receive the hub 10 and the flange or shelf 41 of the crank-arm, see Figure 10, and guide the frame with its pilot-pin 28 into the operative position shown in Figures 3 and 10. The parts being in position, the set screw 29 is caused to engage the hub 40 of the crank-arm. In place of the set screw a yieldable stem 43, Figure 10 may be provided carried in a barrel 44 connected to the frame 14 and adapted to find a seat in a depression 45 in the hub 40 of the crankarm 39 to retain it in place. It will be understood, that as the frame let is lowered with the tub into assembled position, the stem 43 will snap into position and will yield to pressure when it is desired to remove the tub and frame.

The crank-arm in addition to serving as a supporting means for the tub in the frame, constitutes one of the elements through which oscillation is imparted to the tub. To the arm is pivotally connected a pitman or connecting bar 46, which may have connection with any suitable operating means associated with power, such as an electric motor or other suitable unit. The mechanism or means for imparting reciprocal movement to the bar 46 has not been shown, as such means is well known in the art.

Suflice it to say, that when the bar is reciprocated it will oscillate the crank-arm' 39 and it in turn through the connection de scribed, with the tub, will oscillate the latter, its trunnion or pivotal supports comprising the trunnion 25 and the short shaft 38 connected through the crank-arm 39 to the frame 14, in manner shown.

What I claim is 1. A metallic tub, including vertical side walls and a curved rubbing wall having an opening in its top and formed diametrically opposite thereto with an inturned substantially inverted V shaped transversely disposed bridgewall, brace frames for each side wall, said frames having upper diverging arms and lower diverging shoes having inturned flanges to engage the curved wall at the juncture of the bridge-wall therewith and also provided with inturned inverted V shaped flanges to receive and brace the bridge-wall at opposite ends, bolts securing the arms to the side walls above the water line, and bolt connecting the opposite frames near their lower ends and disposed. outside the tub and between the walls forming the but e-wall.

urved rubbing wa having an. r top and formed Ll metrically opposite thereto with an inturned substantially inverted V shaped transversely disposed bridge-wall, a brace frame for each side wall, each frame provided with an inverted V shaped flange to lie within the bridge-wall at either end and engaging'shoes for the curved wall at the point of inturning to form the bridge-wall, bolts securing the upper ends of each brace frame to its side wall above the water line, a bolt connecting the lower ends of the frames and disposed outside the tub and between the walls forming the bridge-wall.

3. In combination with a metallic tub having vertical side walls and a curved rubbing wall, of a frame for each side wall, including a vertically disposed leg and diverging arms at its upper end and diverging shoes at its lower end, bolts connecting the arms to the tub above the water line, laterally arranged bracing means on the shoes to engage the rubbing wall, and a rod connecting the lower ends of the opposite frames to secure the tub thereto.

4. In combination with a tub, of brace frames, one for each side wall of the tub, one frame provided with a trunnion concentric to its axis to support the tub at one side, the other frame provided with a vertically disposed pilot-pin eccentric to said trunnion arranged to support the tub at the other side and a member having its axis aligned with said trunnion with which said pilotpin has a slip engagement.

5. In a washing machine, in combination with the side frames, of a journal bracket connected with each frame, one bracket provided with an open bearin forming. a seat for a tub trunnion, the other bracket provided with a'sleeve bearing having an innor open end, a short shaft journaled in said sleeve, a crank-arm connected to the inner end of said shaft and provided with an overhanging shelf portion having a vertically disposed opening, a tub, brace frames for either side of said tub. one frame having a trunnion adapted to be journaled in the open bearing of said first mentioned bracket, the other frame having a pilot-pin adapted to be inserted in the opening in said cranll-arm, and an operating member connected with said crank-arm.

6. In a washing machine, in combination, a pair of oppositely disposed brackets, one having an open bearing for a tub trunnion and the other having a sleeve like hearing in axial alignment with the open bearing of the opposite bracket, a shaft journaled in said sleeve, an oscillatory member connected with said shaft and provided with an. open ing to receive a pilot i re frames for either side i i to be seated in the opening in said oscillatory memberQ 7. In a washing machine, in combination with the side frames, of a journal bracket connected with each frame, one bracket provided with an open bearing forming a seat for a tub trunnion, the other bracket provided with a sleeve bearing having an inner'open end, a short shaft journaledin said sleeve, a crank-arm connected to the inner end of said shaft and providedv with an overhanging shelf portion having a vertically disposed opening, a tub, brace frames for either side of said tub, one frame having a trunnion adapted to be journaledin the open bearing of said first mentioned bracket, the other frame having a pilot-pin adapted to be inserted in the opening insaid crank-arm, a means to retain the trunnion in said open bearing, a means on the brace frame next adjacent the crank-arm to engage and retain thesame in adjusted relation to said frame, and an operating member connected with said crank-arm.

prises a member having a pivotal connec-' tion with theframe and having a normally vertically disposed socket, a pilot-pin connected with one side of-the tub and adapted to'have a seating relation in said socket to connect the tub to said member, and an operating means in connection with said memher; I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affin'ed my hand this 18th day of April, 1923.

ALPHEUS W. ALTORFER. 

